Dad was warm, loving, loyal, watchful and interested. He was a great musician, storyteller, writer, crossword addict. Fiercely intelligent, scarily determined. Cut-price Corbieres fan, self-described weekend biker. 

He loved company. I remember, 8 or 9 at the time, being fetched back downstairs after bedtime. “Nikkilove, I’m sorry it’s a bit late but I think you’ll love this.” That was my introduction to Blackadder. 

It was great just to see him sat on the sofa next to his grandchildren, doubled up laughing at Shaun the Sheep. Content with life in Hesdin, speaking Franglais, with Mum next to him. To dad, home was wherever mum was. 

To us, Dad was a bit like the moon. We saw different faces and phases while we were growing up. And more since, as adults. When he was bright and shining he lit up the room. I was aware that he had his own trajectory apart from ours – so there were times when he was hard to predict. And he wasn't always there in front of us - but he. knew that mum was. 

As a team, they had absolute integrity: and you don't doubt if the moon's still there, just because you can't see it. 

We remember sitting out on summer evenings, pipe smoke in the air, spotting bats and shooting stars, Ella or Frank crooning quietly in the background. Getting to share these peaceful, observant moments with him felt like a gift, every time. 

He was observant and very caring of people, too. He was there for us, unconditionally. As we - and he - got older, he held the space for us to find our way through crossroads. “Pooks, what do you do because it makes you happy, and what do you do because you think you should? You need to work out the things that really make you happy, the dealbreakers. And go from there.” 

For dad, what made him happy was family. In particular, babies. 

We have wonderful, vivid memories of him meeting, holding, and refusing to let go of every single new grandchild. We know how proud he was of you all. Remember him dashing out of the house to scoop you out of the car whenever we visited. Imagine him proudly pushing your prams. He really loved babies. 

Dad, we'll always get to keep you close because the moon's still there. We feel so lucky that we got to share so much of our lives with you